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Tommy Flanagan

Tommy Flanagan
Jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan at the Village Jazz Lounge in Walt Disney World
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Lee Flanagan
Born	16 March 1930
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, USA
Died	16 November 2001
Genre(s)	Bop Hard bop Mainstream jazz
Occupation(s)	Pianist
Instrument(s)	Piano
Associated acts	Ella Fitzgerald John Coltrane Kenny Dorham Quartet

Thomas Lee Flanagan 16 March 1930–16 November 2001) was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered as an accompanist of Ella Fitzgerald. He played on a number of critically acclaimed recordings, such as John Coltrane's Giant Steps, Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus and The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery.

The Tommy Flanagan Trio (with bassist Wilbur Little and drummer Elvin Jones) released their first album, Tommy Flanagan Trio Overseas, in 1957. As an accompanist, Flanagan worked with Ella Fitzgerald from 1963–65 and 1968–78. But beginning in 1975, Flanagan began once again to perform and record as a leader. He continued to work with other players, however, forming a trio with Tal Farlow and Red Mitchell, among other projects.

Flanagan's style was both modest and exceptionally musical. He embodied many of the most important qualities associated with jazz: swing, harmonic sophistication, melodic invention, bluesy feel and humour. Interestingly, he appeared on a number of highly innovative albums. (His awkward solo on the extremely fast and harmonically complex title-track of Giant Steps is a rare instance on record of the usually unflappable pianist being caught off-guard.)

During his career, Flanagan was nominated for four Grammy Awards — two for Best Jazz Performance (Group) and two for Best Jazz Performance (Soloist). He died on November 16, 2001, of an arterial aneurysm.